Todd laughed as I try to avoid getting a dog tongue across my nose. “No problem! Snickers is my favorite pup. He was a great boy, as usual.”
I gave my best friend one last squeeze and set him down on the floor, watching as he trotted over to his water dish. “What do I owe you, man?”
But Todd shook his head. “Not a thing. Your sister already paid me. How was your trip?”
“It was great.” I avoided his eyes as I stood to show him out.
He took the hint and gave Snickers a scratch and a wave, then turned to leave. “Anytime you need me, just call. I’ve always got time for you guys.”
“Thanks again.” I shut the door behind him with a sigh of relief, and was again left alone with my thoughts. So far, I’d managed to keep the panicky feelings at bay, but I didn’t know how long that was going to last. I also didn’t know what the hell was happening to me or when it would happen again.
What I did know was that I couldn’t keep ignoring it.
I made a cup of coffee, since I’d never drank the one Willow had made me, then went into the living room where my laptop was charging beside the couch. With Snickers snuggled up beside me, I got online and found my doctor’s website. It must be a busy time of year, because they couldn’t fit me in for another ten days.
I could last ten days. It was all good. I could do this. Maybe I should get some kind of medic alert bracelet - “If found, please call this number.”
“Ah, God.” It wasn’t even funny, that was the sad part.
I stared at the table of available appointment times, and then I closed the laptop without making one. I knew it was stupid to put it off. But I was scared. And I was a fucking coward. I just…didn’t want to know. And somewhere deep down, I still hoped this would all somehow just go away and go back to normal.
Setting my laptop on the coffee table, I rubbed my forehead with my fingertips, massaging the constant ache I’d had there since I’d woken up at Willow’s. I needed to call Ailee. What the fuck must she be thinking? First, I run out on her at her studio. Then I finally get her to agree to give me another chance, and promptly fall off the face of the earth. I had no idea if I’d already called her or seen her in the past five days.
That would be good to know.
There was no help for it. I needed to call my sister.
Ripping the Band-Aid off, I hit her name on my contact list.
“Hello? Tyler? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Did I have any contact with Ailee while—” What? I was out of it? “While I was at your place? Was I there the entire time?”
“Tyler, we need to talk about things—”
“Just answer the fucking question, Willow.” I took a breath and softened my tone. “Please. Just…just answer the question.”
After a brief pause, she said, “You were with me the entire time. You ran into her once while we were doing some shopping.”
“That’s it?” What the fuck had I said?
“That’s it.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m positive. You were with me the whole time, Ty. It’s okay.”
“Yeah, you keep fucking saying that.” I heard her muffled voice talking to someone. She must’ve gone into work. “Hey, you’re busy, and I have to go. Thanks.”
“Tyler, wait—”
I hung up the phone. But as soon as I did, I sent her a quick text. She didn’t deserve the way I was treating her. But I just couldn’t talk about it. Not right now. Right now, I just wanted to pretend everything was normal. I wanted to call Ailee. I wanted to take her out. I wanted to buy her shit she didn’t need, steal kisses, and lose my soul in her gorgeous blue eyes.
That was all I could handle right now.
CHAPTER10
Ailee
